Method for the preservation of an opened drink bottle

ABSTRACT

A device of the present invention includes a closure plug for a drink bottle. The plug is provided with an inlet and an inlet valve which is arranged therein and is embodied as a reflux valve that is closed in a rest position. The device also comprises a filling device which is provided with or can be connected to a filling head. The closure plug can be coupled to the filling head in a communicating manner. Gas can be inserted into the drink bottle by the filling device via the filling head and through the inlet valve of the closure plug. The filling head opens the inlet valve when the closure plug is coupled. The closure plug is provided with an outlet and an outlet valve that is arranged therein and is embodied as a reflux valve in the rest position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an appartaus for preserving thecontents of a part-filled beverage bottle and to a stopper for abeverage bottle for use in the apparatus.

2. Background Information

Wine and champagne in part-filled bottles oxidise under the oxygenpresent in the normal ambient air, resulting in a rapid loss in quality.In the case of champagne, the natural liquid-bound CO₂ additionallyescapes into the environment, making the champagne go flat which islikewise most undesirable.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,129, for example, discloses a system for preservingthe contents of part-filled beverage bottles where the part-filledbottles of wine and champagne or sparkling wine are provided with aspecial stopper which either has an integrated non-return outlet valve(for wine bottles or generally for bottles with a so-called “still”content) or an integrated non-return inlet valve (for champagne andsparkling wine). The system has an application head to which the bottlestopper can be coupled in close communication when approached thereto.For wine bottles, the application head is an evacuation head which isconnected to a suction pump. For champagne and sparkling wine bottlesthe application head is a charge head which is connected to a pressurepump. In a special embodiment the application head is both an evacuationand a charge head and is correspondingly connected to a suction and apressure pump. When a bottle with the special stopper fixed thereto iscoupled to the application head then, depending on whether the bottle isa wine bottle or a champagne or sparkling wine bottle, a control startseither the suction pump or the pressure pump and, in the case of wine,sucks air from the bottle via the outlet valve integrated in the stopperor, in the case of champagne or sparkling wine, presses air or CO₂ intothe bottle via the inlet valve integrated in the stopper. Accordingly,subatmospheric pressure is created in the case of wine or stillbeverages, and superatmospheric pressure is created in the case ofchampagne or sparkling wine.

EP-A-0 234 607 discloses a similar but simpler system only for wine orother still beverages which likewise uses a special stopper but wherethe evacuation of the part-filled bottle closed with the special stopperis carried out by means of a hand pump.

Although the known systems preserve the quality of the beverages in thepart-filled bottles for a relatively short period of time they cannotmeet, in particular, high quality demands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Starting from this state of the art, it is accordingly the object ofthis invention to improve the preservation of the quality of thecontents of part-filled beverage bottles, the aim being not only toachieve, in particular, an prolongation of the preservation of thequality as compared to the customary methods but also to keep the per seunavoidable quality loss ensuing already from the opening of the bottleas small as possible.

According to the fundamental ideas of the present invention the gasvolume above the liquid level in the beverage bottle is thus flushed andfilled with nitrogen or a similar food-compatible gas and the bottle isthen tightly closed and preferably kept under a slight overpressure.This brings the residual oxygen above the liquid level in the bottledown to the greatest possible minimum and the quality loss after thefirst opening of the bottle is thus virtually completely prevented evenover an extended period of time.

Most suitable for expelling the ambient air or residual oxygen above theliquid level from the bottle is food quality nitrogen N₂. Nitrogen doesnot diffuse in liquids and therefore does not affect the taste of theliquid, wine or champagne. Nitrogen is available in sufficient amountsand at favourable conditions and can be transported and stored withoutdanger.

FR-A-2 526 762 discloses a bottle stopper which can replace conventionalcorks in the necks of, for example, wine bottles in order to preservetheir contents. This bottle stopper contains an exchangeable cartridgewith nitrogen which is under pressure. Through the exertion of pressureon a control button an inlet valve in the stopper is opened throughwhich nitrogen streams from the cartridge into the bottle. The airpresent above the liquid level in the bottle is expelled by this and isled out through the venting channels provided in the stopper. In theventing channels there are overpressure valves which are closed undernormal atmospheric pressure. The replacement of air with nitrogenpreserves the bottle contents.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,396 discloses a similar bottle stopper which isadditionally a dispenser. In this case the nitrogen pressure cartridge,which is likewise exchangeable, is in constant communicating connectionwith the inside of the bottle, in the neck of which the stopper isinserted, via a pressure regulator and an inlet pipe and creates anoverpressure in the bottle which is employed on the one hand to expelthe air above the liquid level and on the other hand to withdraw thebottle contents. The air escapes through a vent pipe which is fittedwith an outlet valve which can be opened manually. The liquid in thebottle flows out through a rising pipe reaching down to the bottom ofthe bottle and in which there is an output valve which can be manuallyoperated.

Although the bottle stoppers described in FR-A-2 526 762 and in U.S.Pat. No. 4,702,396 are capable of preserving the contents of part-filledbottles, they are relatively complicated as stoppers and are thereforeuneconomical for common use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate the invention in more detail. Theyshow:

FIG. 1 a sectional drawing of the most essential components of a firstembodiment of the inventive apparatus in the inactive state,

FIG. 2 a sectional drawing of the first embodiment in the activatedstate, and

FIG. 3 a sectional drawing of the most essential components of a secondembodiment of the inventive apparatus in the inactive state,

FIG. 4 a sectional drawing of the second embodiment in the activatedstate, and

FIG. 5 an oblique drawing of an embodiment of the inventive bottlestopper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus essentially comprisesat least one specially formed stopper, called S as a whole, and acharging device, called E as a whole. This latter in turn comprises acharge head which is called H as a whole and which is adapted to thestopper S, an inlet valve 1, a vent valve 2, a gas source 3 and anelectric control 4 for controlling the two valves 1 and 2 as well as apressure sensor 4 a which cooperates with the control. Instead of thegas source 3 there could also be only a corresponding connection for thegas source 3. The gas source is typically a commercially availablenitrogen bottle fitted with a pressure reducing valve 3 a which isadjusted to an operating pressure of typically about 140 kPa (1.4 bar).In practice any number of stoppers S are of course possible which cancooperate with one and the same charging device E.

The charge head H comprises a mounting block 20 which is fixedly mountedor mountable and in which a charging pipe 10 is inserted such that it isessentially vertical in the depicted use position of the mounting block20. At its upper end the charging pipe 10 is communicatingly connectedvia the inlet valve 1 with the gas source 3 or with the correspondingconnection (FIG. 2). At its lower end according to the depicted useposition the charging pipe 10 has a tapered axial prolongation 11. Ajoint ring 12 is arranged in the prolongation 11.

The mounting block 20 is provided at its bottom front end with a tubularcollar 23 which is coaxial to the charging pipe 10 and which has at itsbottom edge one or more than one aperture or wall recess 24. A jointring 25 is arranged at the outer circumference of the collar 23.

In the bottom part of the mounting block 20 there is a drill hole 26which is coaxial to the charging pipe 10 and the inside diameter ofwhich is greater than the outside diameter of the charging pipe 10. Atthe upper side of the mounting block there is a connection 27 for thevent valve 2. This connection 27 is communicatingly connected with thedrill hole 26 via an oblique drill hole 28. The connection 27, theoblique drill hole 28 and the interspace between the internal wall ofthe drill hole 26 and the external wall of the charging pipe 10 togetherform a venting channel which permeates the mounting block 20. The ventvalve 2 is connected to the connection 27 (FIG. 2) or is arrangeddirectly in it and when closed seals the venting channel to the outside.

On the mounting block 20 there is furthermore an electric switch(microswitch) 29 which can be actuated via a ram 29 a which is mountedin the mounting block such that it slides. The ram 29 a permeates themounting block 20 and when at rest protrudes slightly from the bottom ofthe mounting block. The switch 29 is actuated by sliding the ram 29 a inor up, and the resetting of the ram 29 a to the bottom is effectedthrough the return spring present in the switch and aided by the effectof gravity. The stopper S comprises an essentially approximatelycup-shaped base body 30, in the perforated bottom of which a tubularstopper 31 is mounted which is made of an elastic material. At its outercircumference, the tubular stopper 31 is provided with elasticring-shaped sealing ribs 32 which snuggle in a sealing manner to theinternal wall of the neck of a beverage bottle F. The dimensions of theelastic tubular stopper 31 are of course adapted to the dimensions ofthe conventional wine and champagne bottles.

In order to securely arrest the stopper S on the neck of the beveragebottle F and thus to prevent an expulsion of the stopper due tooverpressure in the bottle, the stopper is provided with specialarresting devices. These comprise two relatively elastic bows 50 whichare fixed to the base body 30 and two plate springs 51 which connect thetwo bows 50 and which are clamped in them. When the bottom ends of thetwo bows 50 are radially approached to each other the two plate springs51 radially buckle apart from each other, as is known per se, e.g. fromcoin purses, so that the bottleneck can be passed through between them.When the two bows 50 are released the plate springs partly relax again,thereby closely embracing the bottleneck below the annular ridgesusually present there, such that they grip behind those annular ridgesand thus securely hold the stopper. To remove the stopper intentionallythe plate springs are buckled again via the exertion of pressure on thetwo bows 509. As FIG. 5 shows, the top edges of the two plate springs 51in the use position are jagged and they thus cling to the annular ridgeof the bottleneck and provide a secure hold.

In the base body 30 of the stopper S there is an essentially tubularvalve housing 33 having a flange 34 which protrudes inwards. In thebottom end of the valve housing 33 a flow pipe 42 is tightly mountedwhich communicates with the valve housing 33 and which protrudes throughthe elastic stopper 31 up to a little below the level of the platesprings 51 into the bottleneck. The diameter of the flow pipe 42 is alittle smaller than the internal diameter of the elastic stopper 31 sothat a ring channel 45 remains open between the flow pipe 42 and theelastic stopper 31. Alternatively, corresponding axially parallelstraight-way channels may also be provided in the elastic stopper 31.

Inside of the valve housing 33 there is a valve body 43 which is pressedupwards by a helical spring 44 resting on the flow pipe 42. The inwardsprotruding flange 34 of the valve housing 33 forms a valve seat which iscounterpart to the valve body 43. The valve body 43 reaches with acylindrical prolongation 43 a, which has a slightly smaller diameter,through the flange 34 and protrudes (in the rest position) a little outof its front surface (FIG. 1). Below the cylindrical prolongation 43 athe valve body 43 has a conical section which cooperates with the valveseat area of the flange 34. Below that conical section the valve body 43is prismatic and has, for example, a square or hexagonal cross sectionso that free flow cross sections remain open in this area between thevalve body and the internal wall of the valve housing 33.

The flange 34 of the valve housing 33 and the valve body 43 togetherform an inlet valve operating as a non-return valve through which, whenopen (FIG. 2), gas can be introduced into the beverage bottle F, thevalve housing 33 and the flow pipe 42 fixed thereto forming an inletchannel leading through the stopper S in which the inlet valve sits andthrough which the supplied gas streams.

In the upper area of the valve housing 33 there is between that valvehousing and the internal wall of the base body 30 a ring channel 41which is open towards the outside (the top) and immediately below thisthere is a ring channel 39 which has a slightly larger diameter. On theoutside of the valve housing 33 an elastic valve disk 40 is clampedwhich cooperates as a valve seat with the ring shoulder formed by thedifferent diameters of the two ring channels 39 and 41 and which in thenormally closed state (FIG. 1) separates the ring channel 39 from thering channel 41 lying above it and which in the open state (FIG. 2)connects the ring channel 39 with the ring channel 41.

In the base body 30, there are axially parallel channels 36 and radialchannels 37, and in the flow pipe 42 there are also radial channels 38.These radial channels 38 and 37 as well as the axially parallel channels36 connect the ring channel 45 in the elastic stopper 31 communicatinglywith the ring channel 39 below the elastic valve disk 40.

The ring channel 45 lying between the flow pipe 42 and the internal wallof the elastic stopper 31, the radial channels 38 in the flow pipe 42,the radial channels 37 in the base body 30, the axially parallelchannels 36 in the base body 30, the ring channel 39 and the ringchannel 41 together form an outlet channel leading through the stopper.The outlet valve formed by the elastic valve disk 40 normally (restposition, FIG. 1) blocks the outlet channel. When the outlet valve isopened from the outside (FIG. 2), air or gas can escape or be withdrawnfrom the inside of the beverage bottle F through the outlet channel.Because the ring shoulder between the two ring channels 39 and 41 is alittle lower than the elastic valve disk 40, it is slightly prestressedelastically and seals securely. As soon as there is an overpressure inthe bottle, the valve disk 40 gets pressed even more strongly againstthe ring shoulder which further increases the sealing effect.

Those parts of the stopper S which form the inlet channel and the outletchannel have such dimensions that the free flow cross section of theoutlet channel is at every point larger, preferably by a factor >2, thanthe smallest free flow cross section of the inlet channel.

The functioning or operating mode of the apparatus is as follows:

While temporarily buckling the two plate springs 51 apart, a stopper Saccording to this invention is placed on a part-filled wine or champagnebottle F the contents of which are to be preserved, the elastic stopper31 being introduced into the bottleneck where it wedges in a sealingfashion by means of its sealing ribs 32 (FIG. 1).

Together with the stopper S fixed on or in it, the bottle F is nowapproached to the charge head H, which is fixedly mounted at a suitableplace, such that the upper front surface of the stopper S rests againstthe mounting block 20. The collar 23 of the mounting block 20 thenpenetrates on the one hand into the ring channel 41 and on the otherhand the prolongation 11 of the charging pipe 10 penetrates into theflange 34 of the valve housing 33. The ram 29 a is furthermore shiftedupwards, which actuates the switch 29 (FIG. 2).

The joint ring 12 seals together with the flange 34 of the valve housing33, and the circumferential joint ring 25 seals together with theexternal wall of the ring channel 41 in the stopper S.

The collar 23 of the mounting block 20 which has penetrated into thering channel 41 presses the elastic valve disk 40 downwards, thusopening the outlet valve of the stopper S.

The prolongation 11 of the charging pipe 10 which has penetrated intothe flange 34 presses the valve body 43 downwards and inwards, thusopening the inlet valve of the stopper S.

The outlet channel in the stopper S and the venting channel in thecharge head H are now in communicating connection and are sealed againstthe environment. Analogously, the charging pipe 10 and the inlet channelin the stopper S are communicatingly connected and sealed against theenvironment.

Triggered by the upward movement of the ram 29 a and by the actuation ofthe switch 29 effected thereby, the control 4 now opens the inlet valve1 and the vent valve 2 at the same time. From the gas source 3 or fromthe corresponding connection, nitrogen or another food-compatible gaswhich is under a relatively small overpressure of about 100 kPa (1 bar),preferably of about 140 kPa (1.4 bar), now streams through the chargingpipe 10 and the inlet channel of the stopper S into the bottle F. At thesame time the gas streaming into the bottle expels the gas which is inthe bottle, usually normal oxygen-containing ambient air, into theenvironment via the outlet channel in the stopper S and via the ventingchannel in the charge head. After a first time span of e.g. about 5 sthe control 4 closes the vent valve 2. As the inlet valve 1 is stillopen, gas continues to stream into the bottle thus building up a slightoverpressure in the bottle which is registered by the pressure sensor 4a and transmitted to the control 4. When a preset required pressure ofe.g. about 80 kPa (0.8 bar) is reached, which is normally the case afterabout another second, the inlet valve 1 is closed again by the control4. Alternatively, the closing of the inlet valve 1 can also be carriedout in a time-controlled way by the control 4.

The bottle F with its stopper S is now separated again from the chargehead H by a downward movement. This automatically closes the outletvalve and the inlet valve in the stopper again. However, as this,depending on the speed of the manual movement, still takes a briefmoment, some of the gas escapes again from the bottle and a slightlysmaller overpressure of c. 20 to 50 kPa (0.2 to 0.5 bar) finallyestablishes above the liquid level in the bottle. Experience shows,however, that in conjunction with the removal of the residual oxygenfrom the bottle this overpressure suffices to achieve the preservationof the quality of the bottle contents at least in the case of wine andchampagne or sparkling wine.

It is of course also possible to produce a higher overpressure in thebottle. In practice, however, more than 300 kPa (3 bar) are notrequired.

The overpressure in the bottle can later be released before the stopperS is removed by opening the inlet valve. To do so it is only necessaryto press the button-shaped prolongation 43 a of the valve body 43protruding from the front end of the stopper inwards by hand, throughwhich the inlet valve opens and the overpressure can depressurise viathe inlet channel without danger and without any disturbing noise.

The gas source 3 used may be a commercially available gas bottle,preferably a nitrogen bottle, fitted with a corresponding pressurereducing valve. The electric control 4 required for the operatingsequences can be realised with very simple means and the person skilledin the art requires no detailed instructions. The control 4 could, ofcourse, also be pneumatic and the gas source could then also provide thedriving force for the pneumatic control. In the case of a pneumaticcontrol, the triggering of the operating sequences of the control(opening and pressure- or time-controlled closing of the inlet valve andvent valve) can be carried out in a manner known per se via mechanicalcoupling of a control valve with the ram 29.

The inventive apparatus is capable of maintaining a constantoverpressure of 20 to 300 kPa (0.2 to 3 bar) over a period of at least120 hours in the bottle and can thus warrant the quality preservation ofthe contents of the bottle for at least that same period of time.

The second embodiment of the inventive apparatus depicted in thedrawings 3 and 4 differs from the embodiment of the drawings 1 and 2only through the structure of the inlet valve of the stopper S. Insteadof the spring-loaded valve body 43, a stopper 143 is mounted incoaxially movable manner in the upper end of the flow pipe 142. Thestopper 143 is provided with a sealing disk 143 b which cooperates withthe inwards protruding flange 34 of the valve housing 33 and which formsthe inlet valve together with it. A button-shaped prolongation 143 a ofthe stopper 143 protruding through the flange 34 has the same functionas the corresponding prolongation 43 a of the valve body 43 in theembodiment shown in the drawings 1 and 2. All other components of thisembodiment of the inventive apparatus are identical to those of theembodiment shown in the drawings 1 and 2 and are therefore provided withthe same reference marks.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for preserving the contents of apart-filled beverage bottle with a stopper for the beverage bottle,comprising: an inlet channel and an inlet valve which is arrangedtherein and which is a closed non-return valve when at rest; a chargingdevice which is provided with a charge head for connection to a gassource, to which charge head the stopper can be communicatingly coupledand by means of which charging device a gas can be introduced into thebeverage bottle via the charge head through the inlet valve of thestopper, the charge head opening the inlet valve when the stopper iscoupled; the stopper including an outlet channel and an outlet valvewhich is arranged therein and which is a closed non-return valve when atrest, wherein the charge head is equipped for opening the outlet valvewhen the stopper is coupled; in the charge head, a venting channel whichcan be closed via a vent valve is communicatingly connected to theoutlet channel of the stopper when the stopper is coupled to the chargehead; and a control which, during or after the coupling of the stopperto the charge head, opens the outlet valve for a first time span, suchthat an interior of the beverage bottle is connected with an exteriorvia the outlet channel, the venting channel and the vent valve.
 2. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charging device is providedwith a charging device inlet valve and during or after the coupling ofthe stopper to the charge head, the control opens the charging deviceinlet valve for a second time span, the gas to be introduced into thebeverage bottle streaming from the gas source via the charging deviceinlet valve, the charge head and the stopper into the beverage bottle.3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control opens thecharging device inlet valve and the vent valve essentially at the sametime.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first time spanduring which the vent valve is opened is shorter than the second timespan during which the charging device inlet valve is opened.
 5. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second time span is about 6s.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first time spanduring which the vent valve is opened is shorter than the second timespan during which the charging device inlet valve is open.
 7. Anapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas is nitrogen.
 8. Anapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the gas is under an overpressurein a range of 100 kPa (1 bar).
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the overpressure is about 80 kPa (0.8 bar).
 10. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first time span is about 5 s.
 11. Anapparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a pressure sensor whichcooperates with the control for the pressure in the beverage bottle,wherein the control closes the inlet valve when the pressure in thebeverage bottle reaches a predetermined pressure.
 12. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the stopper includes elastic devices towarrant its fixation to the beverage bottle.
 13. An apparatus accordingto claim 3, wherein the gas is nitrogen.
 14. A stopper according toclaim 1, comprising: elastic devices for warranting its fixation to thebeverage bottle.
 15. A stopper for a beverage bottle comprising: aninlet channel, which permeates the stopper and ends at a front end ofsaid stopper; an inlet valve which is arranged in the inlet channel andwhich is a non-return valve when at rest and which can be opened fromoutside; an outlet channel, which permeates the stopper and ends at thefront end of said stopper; and an outlet valve which is arranged in theoutlet channel and which is a non-return valve when at rest and whichcan be operated from outside the stopper.
 16. A stopper according toclaim 15 comprising: a flow pipe which communicates with the inletchannel or which is a part thereof and which protrudes into a neck ofthe beverage bottle.
 17. A stopper according to claim 16 wherein thevalve body of the outlet valve is a prestressed elastic ring disk.
 18. Astopper according to either claim 15, wherein the valve body of theoutlet valve is a prestressed elastic ring disk.